Topic Contents

Dehydration: Drinking Enough Fluids (Babies and Young Children)

Topic Overview

When your child is not feeling
well, he or she may not want anything to drink. This may happen if your child
has a fever or diarrhea or is vomiting. It is important that your child drink
enough fluids to avoid dehydration.

Not drinking enough fluid can
cause constipation. When the weather gets hot or when your child is getting
more exercise, he or she needs more to drink.

Use the following
table to determine how many
8 fl oz (240 mL) bottles or
cups of fluid your healthy baby or child needs each day.

Feeding amount by child's age

Child's age

Number of 8-ounce bottles or cups

Volume in milliliters

6 months

4.0 to 4.5

950 to 1,000

9 months

4.5 to 5.5

1,000 to 1,250

1 year

5.0 to 5.5

1,200 to 1,350

2 years

5.5 to 6.5

1,350 to 1,500

4 years

6.5 to 7.5

1,500 to 1,800

Keep track of how much your child drinks and urinates when
he or she is ill. Remember that children may need to drink more
when they have a fever or diarrhea or are vomiting.

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How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.